Chapter 3: Order of the Phoenix
Hermione looked out her window, the rain had stopped. Letting out a loud sigh, he flopped back onto her mattress.
The raven from before looked down at her, its held tilted, form atop the head board.
"I'm stuck with you aren't I?" she asked it. It fluttered its wings, making itself more comfortable.
"Oh well," she looked at the ring in her hand, and shot up quickly.
It was a signet ring. White gold or silver, with an emerald. Carved in the emerald was a crown, with a dragon flying out of it. Just like the letter. Around the gem was a script.
Latin, simple enough.
It was mingled in with vines, and flowed around the entire ring.
She quickly translated it.
" Family of ill faith, kings of Dragons, rulers of man, protection given out of .." she read to herself. "Where is the rest?" she cursed, and noticed that the script, though faded, was also on the inside of the ring. "Faith." She finished the line, "Dragon dragon dragon." She winced. "That's an odd motto."
The last words were especially odd. Draconis, Draconis, Draconis. Or Dragon, Dragon, Dragon.
She would go to the library tomorrow and see if she was misreading something.
Right now she was tired.
Draco Rex Malfoy wasn't a normal pure blood.
Though he'd act as stuck up as the rest, and though his father was a supporter of the Death eaters, he was different.
For one, his father's twin brother, was a King in southern France. For two, he was the heir to that throne.
The crown held little fame, since his great grandfather agreed that he and his descendants would rule in name only. The power, and control, and reverence still remained, and Draco was still heir.
Until about an hour ago, when his darling uncle decided that he was to be killed along with his father.
Treachery was well known in the Malfoy family. They had all been in Slytherin, and were cursed with so much ambition and cunning that it was considered a fault.
So death schemes and the such were common place.
He was also different in another sense.
His family was famed for its dark terror rule, Draco however, wanted to finish off the line entirely and walk off with the title of 'lord'. Monarchies fail because of to much power and corruption, and if any family was the embodiment of that, it was his.
Draco didn't know of the true reason why his family continued to rule in name, of not in power.
And he personally didn't care.
He didn't have a side in the mess of the world, good or evil. He picked survival. And for survival, he had taken the dark mark, and he had avoided as many meetings as he could, being as gracious to his victims as he could without drawing suspicion.
He went to bed, after placing the concealment charms on his unplottable mansion.
Nothing to do but play dead until September first.
Hermione woke bright and early the next day. The raven was gone, and the day looked rewarding.
She snatched the ring off her night stand, and dressing quickly, then headed down to grab breakfast on her way to the library.
She wasn't the only one up that morning.
Snape was sitting at the wooden table, drinking a mug of coffee, looking cross, and calculating.
"Morning professor." She greeted, grabbing and apple, then turning to the door.
"Where are you off to so early Ms. Granger?" he raised an eyebrow, acting like she had just been caught outside curfew.
"The library." She responded, noting how he rolled his eyes.
"Of course. Haven't you already finished your homework, Ms. Granger?"
"I have, sir." Hermione responded opening the door, "I'm just going to read, unless that's against the rules?"
He smirked, "One can't be so certain, good day, Ms. Granger." With that he left through the door she was holding open.
Hermione glared at his retreating form, before heading in the opposite direction.
Ten books later, Hermione threw down the latest book in her hands in a huff.
When she looked up the saying "Draconis Draconis Draconis" all she had found referred to "Kings and Regents of Magical history." A book that wasn't in her reach.
It was five shelves higher then where the ladder ended. Being as short as she was, she couldn't reach it.
"Hermione Granger, frustrated at a book, never though I'd see the day." Fred Weasley spoke from his position at the double doors leading to the library.
"Perhaps instead of goggling at my misfortune, you can help me?" she asked sweetly.
"Sure, sweets, what can I do to be of service?" he gave her a Weasley winning grin.
"Get the book "Kings and Regents of Magical history, off that shelf for me." She pointed to it.
"No problem. Accio book." He pointed his wand at it, and it flew into his hands. He held it out to her. "There you go," he said smirking.
"Oh really!" she huffed again, "I could have done that."
"But you didn't." Fred pointed out.
Hermione plopped into her reading chair, "So what are you doing here anyway? Surly Three W's needs both you and George running it."
"Actually, George is here too. There is to be a meeting soon."'
"A meeting?" Hermione asked curiously, "What about?"
"Snape," he responded, "there was a meeting last night, and he has something strange to report.
Hermione had a good idea of what, "Do you know if Harry Ron and me will be able to sit in?"
"I requested it." Snape replied from the doors. "Which is why I sent Mr. Weasley to fetch you, as your two friends are already in the meeting room." He glared at the pair, "But instead I find myself fetching the both of you, now hurry up."
Hermione took the book with her, not knowing why, holding it in her left arm, as her right hand went to her pocket and fingered the ring.
Ron and Harry couldn't sit still.
This was their first meeting since the start of summer, and they were brimming with anticipation.
"Hey guys." She said quietly, as Snape took center stage.
"Now Severus," Dumbledore began, "What is the matter?"
"Last night, was an important meeting for the Deatheaters." He began, "Everyone was there, but two." Hermione said the names to herself as Snape announced then to the room "Lucius and Draco Malfoy."
"I see," Dumbledore stated quietly.
"No naturally, the dark lord was concerned, both missing were high up in his circle, so the meeting changed. It became a search party. The Malfoy's weren't anywhere in Europe."
"What does this mean?" Remus asked, concerned.
"Apparently they just were overseas." Mad-eye sneered, "But it makes for an interesting occurance."
"the Dark lord is concerned, Albus." Snape informed the head master. "There is another thing was well,"
"Yes Severus?" Dumbledore gestured him to continue.
"My fire place was used last night, twice."
"Interesting."
"Everyone was asleep before you were called," Molly pitched in, "Who could have used it?"
Everyone shook their heads, lost.
Hermione joined in the confusion, not feeling like it was the best time to describe her adventures.
To bad, it didn't help.
"I cast a reverse spell, Ms. Granger." Snape faced her, "Why did you need 'my' fireplace to reach Dumbledore?"
Caught.
"Umm, well." She faltered. All the eyes in the room were on her.
"Hermione?" Remus started, "You know not to use the fireplaces unless it is an emergency, what happened?"
"You see I got a letter last night." She began, "It was from Malfoy."
"Lucius or Draco." Snape sneered, angry.
"Draco." She answered.
"And?" Snape shouted, "What did it say, and why didn't you inform anyone before NOW!"
"He needed help." Hermione responded, using ever ounce of courage she possessed to face her angry potions master. "And I did try to find someone, I went to your rooms first, but you were gone, I tried Dumbledore next."
"And why didn't you get me or Remus dear after that?" Molly asked concerned.
"Because, the emblem at the top of the parchment was a portkey." She explained.
The room grew silent.
"It appears that this is indeed a long story. Myself and Severus will hear it now, the rest of you will hear it from us, right now I need someone to clear all portkey reports since midnight until now, and bring copies to me. Harry, Ron, you best leave Hermione will tell you later." Dumbledore said softly.
Once everyone was gone, Snape pulled up a chair and sat directly in front of her, "Well?"
Hermione sighed, and told of the events of the evening prior.
Leaving out the ring, and what it said.